Naseem's 20-ball innings were the highlight of Pakistan's performance, displaying bravery that is not frequently on exhibit.
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In the first T20I against Pakistan, as they started the final preparations for their T20 World Cup victory in South Africa last month, Megan Schutt led Australia to an easy eight-wicket victory with her career-best T20I numbers and a sharp half-century from Ellyse Perry opening the batting. Schutt finished with Australia’s third-best numbers behind former teammate Jess Jonassen (5 for 10) and Molly Strano (5 for 10) as she became the fourth bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in T20Is (5 for 12).
A target of 119 was never going to be a problem for Australia, who cruised home with 38 balls to spare. Perry, who had earlier collected 2 for 3 from two overs, opened with captain Meg Lanning as Beth Mooney dealt with a “niggle” but was able to stay going throughout Pakistan’s innings. Sadia Iqbal beat Lanning with a brilliant arm ball, but Perry, dropped on 3 after Iqbal lost a difficult return catch, continued her swift scoring in India – and prolific WNCL form – with a confident 57 off 40 balls, including a six pulled over wide mid-on against a free shot from Fatima Sana.
Read more: SA20: Squads and broadcasting details for the inaugural season
Ayesha Naseem gave Pakistan’s innings some much-needed impetus, smashing maximums off King, Brown, and McGrath, but King got the last laugh, bowling the feisty 18-year-old for 24 off 20. Naseem’s 20-ball innings were the highlight of Pakistan’s performance, displaying bravery that is not frequently on exhibit. Tahlia McGrath was propelled towards the fig tree over long-on, and she played a powerful pull off Darcie Brown onto the grass bank at midwicket.
